Flagler can remove tree, doesn't get parking

St. Augustine's Planning and Zoning Board will allow Flagler College to remove a 60-year-old, 37-inch-thick oak tree at 94 Cedar St. to make room for a $3.5 million, three-story freshman dormitory.

But, at the same time, the Zoning Board denied Flagler's request for off-site parking.

The board's split decision means that Flagler administrators, who desperately need dormitory space, will either appeal to the City Commission to get the off-site parking, or lower the number of rooms in the dormitory so they don't need to park off the property.

However, the college will probably think twice before appealing to the same commission that last month rejected the Lightner Parking Facility in that same neighborhood and which ran on the plank of being more responsive to residents.

William Abare, Flagler's president, said after the 90-minute hearing that college officials will have to discuss what they will do next.

"We'll meet with our architect and the contractor," Abare said. "This is appealable. The city zoning staff recommended that it be approved. We're still on solid footing."

Court Terrell, owner of Peace and Plenty Inn, a bed-and-breakfast at 87 Cedar, opposed Flagler's petition but said Cedar Street residents know that this property will be developed eventually.

"We were hoping to control the type of development that would go in there and make sure there is less intensity," he said. One significant issue was the college's 50-space parking lot at Cedar and M.L. King Avenue. The college says that with those 47 spaces added to 32 spaces on the dorm property, they had 77 spaces, more than the 64 they need -- one per room.

But the residents said each of those "rooms" actually has two bedrooms, meaning 128 beds.

And, if each freshman owns an automobile, that puts 128 more vehicles on already overcrowded Cedar Street. Resident Bill Freeman, 88 Cedar, the only homeowner left on the north side of the street, lamented the decision.

"Power and privilege. That's what it boils down to," Freeman said.

Earlier, he said the dorm's presence would lower the quality of life for everyone on Cedar Street.

"Flagler College has not been a good neighbor, and they would say the same thing about me, because I've opposed almost everything they've tried to do there," Freeman said.

Board member Harvey Simms made the motion to reject Flagler's off-site parking application. The vote was 4-0. Board member Matt Baker abstained, citing a business connection to the college. The board then voted 3-1 to allow the tree to be replaced. Member James Solana dissented. The decision almost got tabled, which the residents requested. Simms said, "I don't want to make this call." But Abare said he wanted a decision then, win or lose.

"There is an outside possibility that our contractor could have this project completed by September," he said. "We have a dormitory problem this fall. This will help us tremendously. Even a delay of 30 days will hurt us. We'll live with your decision."

But after the vote to deny, he said, "The question is whether a higher body will see it this way."